Category: Inspiration

Focused and Determined

Author, Nicole L. Ross2 Comments

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            What does it mean to be focused and determined?  When I looked it up, one of the many definitions for focus is the center of interest or activity.  I did the same for determined and came up with having made a firm decision and resolving not to change it.  These are two concepts I feel we should all purpose in our hearts to live by.  Is it easy?  Absolutely not.  You have to have enough will power deep down inside of you to keep moving forward, no matter what.  Stuff happens and when it does, often times it can catch you off guard.  Little things here and there, I call these distractions.  I’d even say that it really seems like more of these distractions seem to transpire when you are actually trying to stay focused, compared to if you are just breezing through life with no goals or ambition.  That being said, when you find your purpose in life, make a firm decision that you are going to fulfill that purpose.  In order to this however, the ability to not sweat the small stuff must be present.  We must learn to pick and choose our battles.  Do only those things that are most important and leave those other things alone.  They are simply a diversion meant to get you off course.

As an online college Instructor, one of the first things I tell my students when they start my class is to be prepared for any and everything.  I suggest that they have a backup computer, back up internet access, work ahead to complete each week’s assignment, just overall stay ahead of the game.  The reason I encourage them to do this is because should anything happen, they will be prepared.  Preparation is half the battle for successfully completing the course, which in turn will push them towards their goal of obtaining a college degree.

Whatever it is you have going on in life, let today be the day you decide to get focused and determined towards fulfilling the purpose and plans that lie ahead of you.  We have to be like Paul in Philippians 3:14, and press forward towards the prize. I decree and declare on this day that God is planning to do something new in your life.  Out with the old, let’s focus on the new.  Are you ready for it?  #iDeclare #focusedanddetermined

My challenge to you:

Don’t focus on today’s struggle, focus on tomorrow’s victory.

Don’t pray about a job, pray for a company.

Don’t look for a way out, determine to find a way up!

You got this! Just keep pressing forward!!!

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I come as humbly as I know how first to say thank you.  Thank you for your grace and mercy Lord.  Thank you for your loving kindness and for the favor that you have on my life.  I decree and declare that I will live a life that is focused and determined, not allowing anything to get in my way or stop me from moving forward.  I bind any distractions or stumbling blocks right now in the name of Jesus.  In Jesus Name I pray, Amen.

Scripture:

Proverbs 4:25 ESV “Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.”

1 Corinthians 9:24 NLT “Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win!”

Exercise Your Faith

Author, Nicole L. Ross1 Comment

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Often times we offer words of encouragement to someone when they are in a tough situation by telling them the importance of having faith and trusting God.  Yes, indeed we have to have faith when faced with obstacles in life but what about if we make faith our lifestyle.  Live life in such a way that you are required to get out of your comfort zone and actually make an effort to exercise your faith on a daily basis.  This is especially important when it comes to utilizing the gifts that God has placed on the inside of us.  There are a lot of gifts that God has given us, yet we are either not comfortable operating in those gifts or if we operate in those gifts we don’t do it for the glory of God.

How do you exercise your faith?  Well, the best example I can give you is to compare it to the same thing you do to exercise your physical body.  When you first start exercising, you start slow.  You don’t go and run ten miles, you start with maybe one and work your way up from there.  That is the same thing you can do with your faith.  Jesus said we are to have the faith of a mustard seed, and a mustard seed is extremely tiny, virtually impossible to see with the human eye.  The same way that running a marathon builds your physical strength, exercising your faith grows your spiritual strength.  Spiritual maturity will also come with spiritual strength and growth in your personal relationship with God.

See, to God, your life is a finished picture, beautifully painted on a canvas and He is watching parts of it unfold each and every day.  It’s your faith and ability to not just talk about it, but actually make it a lifestyle that is going to help paint a new part of that beautiful picture.  Remember, He is Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. You were created to be a central part of the Kingdom and to be used in a vast way.  Stop looking at your present situation as the end all, be all and exercise your faith.  Just do it.  You have a future that God is trying to get you to, but in order to get there you have to make it through where you are right now. So today, my challenge to you…Change your lifestyle, exercise your faith and see just how spiritually strong you will become.  #iDeclare #exerciseyourfaith

FaithWorkout

Prayer:

Father God, In the name of Jesus I come humbly first and foremost repenting for not having the faith that I should.  Please help me Lord to live a life of faith and trust in you.  I decree and declare on today that I will live a life that will require me to exercise my faith and trust in you on a daily basis.  Faith is my lifestyle and I will draw closer and closer to you each day.  I know that faith without works is dead, so Lord I ask now that in my journey please help me and show me what I am to do on my part.  Thank you God for hearing my prayer.  In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Scripture:

James 2:17 NKJV “Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”

Hebrews 11:1 NIV “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”

Think BIG!!!

Author, Nicole L. Ross1 Comment

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I wanted to do a follow up with yesterday’s post about taking the limits off God and what He can do in your life.  One revelation that God gave me a few weeks back is that not only should we take off any limits we have placed on Him, but He cannot do a great thing in a little mind.  This really got me to thinking and I will pose this question to you as well.  Is your mind vast enough to encompass greatness or are you so simple minded that you can’t imagine anything beyond what you can see in the present moment?  I know that I have great faith in God, which gives me the ability to see beyond my present situation but I can honestly say that I am working every day on expanding my thought process to see the greatness ahead.  It can be tough when there is so much hurt, rejection, and disappointment around you.  What I am trying to do is set all of that to the side.  I know that these things have all been put there to push me towards that greatness I asked about, it’s just a matter of me staying focused and not allowing those rough patches to get me off track.

What I have learned is that it is so important to understand that so many things in our lives are birthed in our minds.  It develops as a thought, and then its up to you to act on it. What the devil will do is try to counterattack those thoughts and cause you to doubt.  He knows there is greatness in you and he wants to do everything he can to prevent them from coming to fruition.  If he can shut you down by using someone to say something negative to you and bring hurt and disappointment, then that is what he will do.  Often times, he will even use people who are close to you to do it.  Another thing to understand if this happens is that they may not even realize they are being used.  The bible tells us that the enemy comes to kill, steal and destroy and you better believe that he will do it any way he can.  This is where you have to use that power and authority that God has already given you.  Do not let the enemy shut you down, you shut him down.  We destroy him by doing just what 2 Corinthians 10:5 says, Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.  The devil is defeated, we just have to remind him.

When you get that small inkling in your mind to do something that you know can only come from God, you must act on it.  Obedience is not only better than sacrifice, obedience is where you get your blessings.  Operating in a spirit of obedience will take you so far because it will allow the gifts that you are operating in to make room for you.  As a servant of the Lord, I want to operate in greatness, not for myself, but so that the Kingdom of God can truly get glory out of my life.  My prayer is that your desire will be the same.  We are human and will most certainly make mistakes, but let’s not allow our mistakes to prevent us from operating in greatness for our life.  I end with these two questions, what’s on your mind?  More importantly, what are you doing about it? #iDeclare #thinkBIG

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Prayer:

Father God, in the name of Jesus I come humbly before your throne thanking you for who you are in my life.  I come asking Lord that you would help me to think big.  Help me to understand the many things that are birthed in my mind and how to use them for your glory.  I decree and declare that when a thought is placed in my mind, I will act upon it and be obedient to the calling you have placed inside of me.  I will operate in greatness.  Thank you Jesus for hearing my prayer.  I love you, honor you and praise you.  In Jesus name, Amen.

Scripture Reference:

Proverbs 18:16 KJV “A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.”

1 Samuel 15:22 NLT “But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.”